Sweet Leaf Stevia Plant – Live Stevia Rebaudiana 4 inch Pot – 1 ft Tall

Overview

Bring the joy of natural sweetness to your home garden with this exquisite sweet leaf stevia plant. This offering includes one healthy, live Stevia Rebaudiana plant, approximately 1 ft tall, meticulously grown in a 4 inch nursery pot. Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) is a remarkable herb native to South America, renowned for its intensely sweet leaves, which are a natural, calorie-free alternative to sugar. Ideal for culinary use, from sweetening beverages to baking, this plant is a must-have for anyone seeking a healthier lifestyle or looking to reduce sugar intake. Growing your own stevia ensures a fresh, organic supply of this incredible herb, allowing you to enjoy its benefits directly from your garden.

The live Stevia Rebaudiana plant is easy to care for and adaptable, making it suitable for both experienced gardeners and beginners. Its lush green foliage adds a touch of natural beauty to any space, whether cultivated indoors on a windowsill or outdoors in a garden bed or container. Discover the satisfaction of harvesting your own natural sweetener and incorporating it into your daily routine with this delightful sweet leaf stevia plant.

Key Benefits

Growing a sweet leaf stevia plant offers a multitude of advantages, making it a valuable addition to any home. Here are some key benefits you can expect from your live Stevia Rebaudiana plant:

• Natural Sweetener: Stevia leaves contain steviol glycosides, which are up to 300 times sweeter than sugar but contain zero calories. This makes it an excellent natural alternative for those managing blood sugar levels or trying to reduce calorie intake.
• Health-Conscious Choice: By growing stevia at home, you have a fresh, unprocessed source of sweetener that is free from artificial additives found in many commercial sweeteners. It supports a healthier diet and lifestyle.
• Versatile Culinary Use: The fresh leaves can be directly added to teas, coffees, smoothies, and desserts. You can also dry and powder the leaves for a convenient, long-lasting sweetening agent in your cooking and baking.
• Easy to Grow: Stevia is a relatively low-maintenance plant, thriving with proper sun and water. It’s a rewarding herb for gardeners of all skill levels, offering consistent harvests throughout its growing season.
• Attractive Foliage: Beyond its practical uses, the live Stevia Rebaudiana plant features attractive, bright green leaves that can enhance the aesthetic of your herb garden, patio, or kitchen.
• Sustainable & Renewable: Harvesting leaves from your own plant provides a sustainable source of sweetener, reducing reliance on store-bought products and contributing to eco-friendly living.
• Educational Experience: It offers a wonderful opportunity to learn about natural food sources and plant cultivation, especially for families with children interested in gardening.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your sweet leaf stevia plant is straightforward and rewarding, ensuring a continuous supply of its sweet leaves. Stevia thrives in conditions that mimic its native South American habitat. For optimal growth, provide your live Stevia Rebaudiana plant with plenty of sunlight. It prefers full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. If growing indoors, place it near a south-facing window or use grow lights to supplement light during shorter days. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade can prevent leaf scorch.

Stevia requires consistent moisture but dislikes soggy feet. Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, allowing excess water to drain away. Good drainage is crucial to prevent root rot. A well-draining potting mix, ideally one formulated for herbs or vegetables, is best. You can amend garden soil with compost and sand to improve drainage and fertility. Maintain a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH, between 6.0 and 7.0. The stevia plant care routine also includes regular fertilization during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced liquid fertilizer, diluted to half strength every 2-4 weeks. Reduce feeding in fall and winter.

Stevia is tender to frost and is typically grown as an annual in cooler climates (below USDA Zone 8). In warmer, frost-free regions, it can be a perennial. Protect your plant from cold temperatures; if growing outdoors in a cold region, consider bringing it indoors before the first frost. Pruning is beneficial for encouraging bushy growth and more leaf production. Pinch back the growing tips regularly to promote branching. Watch out for common pests like aphids or whiteflies, and treat with organic insecticidal soap if necessary. Proper air circulation also helps prevent fungal diseases, making growing stevia at home a healthier experience.

Size & Details

This offering is for one healthy sweet leaf stevia plant, approximately 1 ft (12 inches) tall from the base of the pot to the top of the foliage. It is carefully shipped in a 4 inch nursery pot, providing a stable environment for its journey to your home. This size is ideal for immediate transplanting into a larger container or directly into your garden bed, once acclimated. The growth rate of the live Stevia Rebaudiana plant is moderate, and with proper care, it can reach heights of 1-2 feet as a bushy annual or larger perennial in suitable climates. Expect to begin harvesting leaves within a few weeks of planting, with continuous production throughout the growing season. The plant will establish quickly, ready to provide its unique, natural sweetness.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: This sweet leaf stevia plant arrives approximately 1 ft tall in a 4 inch pot. With proper care, it can grow to be 1-2 feet tall and bushy, especially if regularly harvested and pruned.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The live Stevia Rebaudiana plant can be grown both indoors and outdoors. It thrives outdoors in warm climates or during the summer, and can be brought indoors as a houseplant in cooler regions before frost.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: Your sweet leaf stevia plant requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day for optimal growth and sweetness. Indoors, place it in a bright, south-facing window.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, stevia plant care is relatively easy. It’s considered a low-maintenance herb, making it suitable for beginners. Consistent watering and sufficient sunlight are key.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your live Stevia Rebaudiana plant will arrive approximately 1 ft tall and healthy, securely packaged in its 4 inch nursery pot with soil, ready for transplanting.
• Q: Can I use stevia leaves directly from the plant? A: Absolutely! The fresh leaves of your sweet leaf stevia plant can be picked and used immediately to sweeten teas, coffees, smoothies, or any dish where you desire natural, calorie-free sweetness.
• Q: What’s the best way of growing stevia at home for maximum sweetness? A: Providing ample sunlight, consistent moisture, and regular fertilization during the growing season will encourage vigorous growth and maximum sweetness in your stevia leaves.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Stevia is frost-sensitive. If you live in USDA Zones 8 or below, it’s best to treat it as an annual or bring it indoors during winter. In warmer zones (9-11+), it can be a perennial.
• Q: Is the plant shipped in soil? A: Yes, the live Stevia Rebaudiana plant is shipped rooted in its 4 inch nursery pot with soil, ensuring its health and stability during transit.
• Q: How often should I water my stevia plant? A: Water your sweet leaf stevia plant when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Ensure good drainage to prevent waterlogging.